California ISO reviews

I think an employee's experience at CAISO varies greatly depending on their manager. It seems to me that when an entire team has issues with a manager, it's not the employees that are the problem. However, it was my experience was that the manager/director is protected at all costs. CAISO has processes for processes, and keeping up with process changes (nevermind trying to find something on the website) can be a full time job for employees and Market Participants alike. Like many larger organizations, the silo effect is a huge challenge. My job directly affected another process which I couldn't tell you anything about other than what it was called. I wouldn't say employees are empowered to make decisions or have any real job autonomy, as a culture of fear and "witch hunts" to blame the person who made the mistake is the norm.

CAISO has been trying to launch the upgraded MRTU program for at least 6 years and until 2009 all attempts have been unsucessfull. At least $300,000,000.00 was spent on this effort. Senior Management of ISO has recently stabilized but they are not empowered. All decisions are controlled by the CFO/CIO/VP. Poor Management at the top of the CAISO tree has caused poor morale and a virtual revolving door of employee and consultant turnover. Employees are in fear of upper management as they shoot the messenger. CASIO has been fined or assessed liquidated damages by governing agencies and the resistance to improve still exists.